Grain drill



GRAIN' DRILL Filed July 7, i944 Svsneets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. T ODORELERDMAN 2i, im T. J. ERDMAN 2,400,745

ay 2 194. T. J. ERDMAN 2,400,745

' GRIN DRILL l i s Filed July 7, 1944 Y5 sheets-sheet V2 .5 54 M M. tRw/ s. e man 0 e E a 0 en ,E 4 .r WH LIM .anw ADV /,.T.., s /A. m ,17.,4 4 Z. B M ML w M u D R 7 R D v.. E m 1m l A J J R .Gm T l .1 F

Patented May 21, 1946 GRAIN DRILL Theodore J. Erdman, Horicon, Wis.,assignor to The Van Brunt Manufacturing Co., Horicon, Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin Application July 7, 1944, Serial No. 543,806

Claims.

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements andmore particularly to planting implements Isuch as grain drills and thelike.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provisionof a new and improved grain drill, the seeding mechanism of which is soconstructed and arranged to provide, first, a

more simple and less expensive construction than heretofore, and second,an appreciably wider range of feeds. More particularly, it isa featureof this invention to provide a grainkdrill of the internal double runforce feed type, including a double faced wheel having a small and alarge size for` planting small seeds and large seeds, respectively, witha change speed arrangement consisting essentially of only spur gears.Specifically, it is a feature of this inventicnto provide, first. doublerun feed units having adjustable gates shiftable each into ten differentpositions, and driving mechanism therefor that includes a pair ofreversible and interchangeable compound spur gears which by merelychanging the position of one or more of them provides for ve differentspeeds of drive for the seeding shaft that actuates the double run forcefeed units. `With a total of twenty gate settings for the double runfeed units and a speed change gear unit affording five different speeds,it willbe seen that a total of one hundred different seeding rates maybe secured. Specifically, itis an important feature of this invention toprovide a new and improved gear hanger construction for supporting thetwo reversible and interchangeable compound gear units so that the gearsmay not only be meshed with one another but with the driving and drivengears of the grain drill in any of the five different gear positionspossible.

These and other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will beapparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment has beenillustrated.

In the drawings: y

Figure l is a transverse sectional view taken near the left end of agrain drill and looking laterally inwardly, showing the driving anddriven gears and the associated compound gear mechanism positioned intheir lowest speed 'setting.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view takenA generally along the line2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the gearhanger.

Figure 4 shows one side of the double run force feed unit. Y

Figure 5 shows the other side of the double run feed unit and thecompound gears in their next higher speed setting. I

Figures 6-8, inclusive, are views similar to Figure 5, showing thecompound gear members in their other speed settings.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the grain drill, whichisindicated in `its entirety by the reference numeral I, comprises aseed box 2 mounted on `a framework 3 consisting of a plurality ofgenerally longitudinally extending an gles li. The grain or seed box 2is mounted on the rear ends of the angles 4 by means of suitable endbrackets 5 bolted, as at 6, or otherwise secured to the angles 4. Thegrain drill frame 3 is supported by ground wheels (not shown)` connectedto the outer ends of an axle 8 which serves as a drive shaft for theseeding mechanism. Along the underside of the seed box 2 is a pluralityof internal double run force feed units, or feed cups, each indicated inits entirety by the reference numera1 l5. These feed cup units arestructurally similar tothe seed dispensing mechanism shown in the UnitedStates patent to W. A. Van Brunt, No; 1,639,317," dated August 16, 1927,to which reference may be had if necessary. The general construction ofthe graindrill in which the present invention has been embodied issomewhat similar to the grain drill shown in the United States patent toJ. Schaeffer, No. 1,944,672, dated January 23, 1934, to which referencemay also be made if desired. In view of the above-mentioned priorpatents, detailed description of the seed dispensing mechanism will notbe required except to point out the principal differences between theinstant construction and the construction shown in the above-mentionedprior patents. It will be seen from Figure 4 that each feed cup unit l5includes a double faced feed wheel I6 mounted non-rotatably on a squareshaft I1 which serves as the drivenV shaft of the seeding mechanism. The

shaft ll is mounted for rotation in the end brackets 5 in any suitableway, preferably by means of a bearing bushing I8 mounted for rotation ina cup-shaped boss I9 formed on or carried by the end bracket 5. A gear2l, constituting a driven gear, is fixed to the driven shaft I1 so as torotate the latter, and in the case of wide drills, there may be twodriving axles 3, two driven shafts l1, each with its own driven gear 2|.Each feed cup unit I5 is provided with suitable means (not shown) bywhich Seed may be prevented from entering one or the other of the sidesof the unit. Such means may take the form of the shield mechanism shownin the patent to W. A. Van Brunt, No. 1,639,317, dated August 16, 1927.

According to the present invention, the feed cups or double run forcefeed units I are specially constructed. At each side of the feed wheell5, the latter is formed with flutes* or projections 23 which, incooperation with a gate 24, serves to deliver the seed in meteredquantities to a seed tube or the like (not shown) and which in.

turn delivers the seed to furrow openers or theA like. The gate 24 atone side of the feed WheelV i6 is smaller than the gate at the otherside, andi the gate at each side is mountedrfor swingingpr: pivotalmotion under the control of a. lever2l5'ltoLA which the portion of thegate serving asa .pivot is secured. Each lever 26 is provided with adetent iin 27 and the casing 28 of the feed cupfunit is provided at eachside with ten notches 2S to receive the detent fin 2l. By virtue of thisconstruction, the lever may be sprung slightly to cause it to clear onenotch and to move the gate into another position Where the n 2l mayenter another notch. Since there are ten notches there are therefore'ten'diiferent gate settings. t will be understood that theY position ofthe gate 24 controls the rate of flow of seed into the feed wheel l5.The gate and lever for one side ofthe feed'cup unit are shown in Figure4 while the gate and lever for the other side of the feed cup unit isshownin Figure 5. One is arranged to control the smaller seed' While theother is arranged' to control theilarger seed, and hence the slots havebeen numbered consecutively from l to l0 on one.

side of thev casing 2S and Afrom 11 to 20`on the other side.

A drivinggear in the form of a double width pinion 3| is fixed in anysuitable manner to the axle or drive shaft 8. A swingable gear hanger orcarrier, indicated in its entirety` bythe reference numeral 32, isswingably supported for rocking movement about the axis of the drivenshaft Il: quite similar to that shown in the above-mentioned Schaefferpatentthe gear hanger. having which the tools are raised. Thelarm onvthe pres-- sure shaft is adapted'to engage a projection 3dV on thehanger 32. A spring may befengaged with a second apertured projection onthehanger 32 for yieldably urgingthesame-in a direction tov mesh withtheflower of the gears carried by the hanger into mesh with the'drivinggear` 3l.

The hanger 32 is provided ywith two bearing members, onerof which isadjustable, for receiving two compound gear members which cooper.- atewith one another to transmit the drive from the driving gear 3| tothedriven gear 2|. Both ofA these gearsv are-Spur gears as. arethe compoundgear members carried by thehanger. The rst. compound gear member is,indicated by thereference numeral llfandincludestwo 'sections 4| Theconstructionfof` the gearhanger 32.is

Aarid 52 of different diameters.

The compound gear member il!! is, in Figures 1, 2 and 4, mounted on axed bearing 44 that is formed integrally with or carried by the hanger.32. A cap 46 is disposed at the opposite side of the gear Il!! and isapertured, like the fixed gear section 44, to receive a bolt l1 whichholds the cap 46 and the gear member l5 in position for free rotation onthe hanger. 32: The other ycompound gear member `is indicated by thereference numeral 5U and likewise consists of two sections 5| and 52 ofdifferent diameters. Preferably, the section 5| is the largest and thesection 52 is the smallest, the section 4| being next to the largest indiameter and; the, section 42- being next to the smallest in posite thegear member 56. A clamping plate 58` having an aperture 59 therein, islikewise formed with a grid of projections 6| which are adapted tointerlock with tl'ie projections 5'! in different positions bothangularly and linearly of the hanger 32. A bolt 62 extends throughtheaperture 59 of the clamping plate.5'8f and alsothrough a bearing orbushing havinga hub or cap end.

56. Shims 6l' are provided'between the bearing bushing G5 and the side.of the hanger 32, and also an enlarged apertured plate 68 is disposedover the opening 56m the hanger 32. By virtue of the enlargedopening 55the bearing 65for the compound gearimember Eil may be shifted toward oraway from the axis of the gear 4U and, at the same time, toward or awayfrom the axis of the seeding shaft Il, about Which the hanger 321sswingably mounted. This is possible because the opening 5e isappreciably larger than the bolt 62 passing` therethrough. Further, theclamping plate 53 `and the interlocking grid projectionson the latterand-on thek gear` hanger provide for securely xing the shiftablebushingl in any position of adjustment, merely by tightening theclamping bolt 62 after rst disposing the bushing 55 inthe desiredposition.`

The operation is substantially as follows:

Reference has been made` above tothe fact that each of the two gates inthe double run feed unit may be adjusted into any one .of ten differentpositions, making a total adjustment of vtwenty dierent positionspossible.- Five differentspeedY 4| of the compound gear lill isdisposednextto the hanger 32. The larger section 4| `ofthe compound gearmember'llfis'then in'a position: to mesh with the double widthA pinion3|. setting the other compound gear member 'is disposed with the largersection 5| thereof' away from the gear hanger 32 and in a position tomeshwith the smaller compoundgearsection 52. At

the same time,` thesmaller: compound-gear-sem tion152 of the compoundgear. memberYEis-in a position to mesh with .the'driven` gear 2|. The

For this present invention is, of course, not to be limited tofanyparticular sizes or ratios of gearsbut in one practical embodiment ofthis invention, the compound gear members 40 and 50, when arranged asshown in Figure 1, provided for driving the seeding shaft at a speedequal to approxi-r mately 75% or 80% of the speed of the drivingV 62 inorder to shift the other gear member 55.

such an amount that the larger gear section thereof may now be meshedwith the larger gear section di` of the lower compound gear 4l.`

In one form of theinvention, the arrangement ofthe gears in this mannerprovided forzdrivingthe seeding shaft at a rate slightly in excess ofthe rate of rotation of the driving shaft, It will be noted thatinshifting the gear 5B to accommodate the new or reversed position of thegear di), it was necessary to so dispose or shift the gear Eli so thatits smaller gear section 52 would remain in mesh with the driven gear 2|while, at the same `timethe gear 50 would be spaced far enough away fromthe gear member d to permit meshing the larger section 5| of the gearmember 5|] with the larger section lll of the other gear member 4d.This, of course, requires a shift of the gear member 5|) alongthe gearhanger 32 in two different directions. This dual shifting of the gearmember 5B, rather, the support bearing or bushing 44 for the gear member5t, is accommodated by the particular grid projections 51, 6| on thegear hanger 32 andthe clamping plate 58, as described above.v

The setting of the gears 4|) and `55 for the next highest speed is shownin Figure 6. In this setting it will be noted that the gears 40 and 5i)have been interchanged, that is, gear 50 has been mounted on the lowerbushing 44 while the gear member di! has been mounted on the shiftablebushing G5. However, the distance between the bushing 55 and the axis ofthe axle 8 remains the samesince the larger sections of the gears are inmesh with one another and the. larger section of the now lower gearmeshes with the driving pinion 3|. Nevertheless, the shiftable bushing65 must be moved in order to mesh the smaller section 42 of the compoundgear member Mlwith the driven gear 2|, such movement of the `bushing e5,in effect, taking place in the radius about the axis of the lower fixedbearing 4d.

The setting of the gears 4|) and 50 for the next highest speed is shownin Figure '7. In this setting it will be noted that the gear 5U ismounted on the lower bushing 44 but has been reversed, as compared withits No. 3 setting, so as to dispose the larger section 5| against thegear hanger. Likewise, the gear 4i) has been reversed on the shiftablebushing 65, as compared with its No.`

3 setting, in order to dispose the larger section M of the gear member4|] in mesh with the larger section 5| of the gear member 50 and alsowith the driven gear 2 In order to effect this change it is, of course,necessary to shift the movable bushing 65 both with respect to the axisof the lower bushing B4 and also with respect to the axis of the gear2|.

The setting for the highest speed is shown in Figure 8, and in thisposition it will be noted that, as compared with its No. 4 setting, thegear member 5] has been reversed on the bushing `44, the larger section5| now meshing with the driving Azo pinionjdl and with the smaller gearsection ,42 ofthe compound gear member 40, the largersection 4| thereofremaining in mesh with the driven gear` 2|. 1

rI hus, by virtue of the present invention, it is no longer necessary`toemploy cone gears or the like, A,a relatively expensive construction,and

merely by the use of two compound spur gear; members with a shiftablebushing support for one of them so as to accommodate changing the po`sitionof the associated gear `in-two directions relative to thesupporting hanger, I am enabled,

withgthe twenty gate settings, to secure one hun dred different seedingrates.

'While I have shown and described above the` preferred structure in`which, the principles of the x present invention have beenincorporated,itis to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to theparticular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widelydifferent means may be employed in the practice of the broaderaspects ofmy invention. i

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

i. In a. grain drill, the combination of a driven shaft, a drivingshaft, and a selective speed transmission operatively connecting saidshafts, comprising a gear on the driving shaft, a gear on the drivenshaft, a swingable gear carrier, and two intermeshing compound gearseach reversi-` bly and interchangeably mounted on said carrier andshiftable therewith into a position connecting said driving and drivengears.

2; In a grain drill, the combination of a driven shaft, a driving shaft,and a selective speed transmission operatively connecting said shafts,comprising a gear on` the driving shaft, a gear on the driven shaft, aswingable gear carrier mounted for rocking movement about one of saidshafts adjacent the gear thereon and shiftable toward and away from thegear on the other shaft, a rst reversible compound gear, a iixed bearingsupport therefor disposed on said carrier in a position to cause thelarger section of said first compound gear to mesh with the gear on saidother shaft, a second reversible compound gear, and a bearing supporttherefor shiftable in either of two different directions relative tosaid gear carrier, radially with respect to said gear on the drivenshaft and also radially with respect to the gear on said fixed bearingsupport, so as to accommodate the reversal of said second compound gearand the meshing of either its larger section or its smaller section withsaid one gear and the meshing of its larger section with either of thesections of said rst compound gear.

3. In a grain drill having a driving shaft, a driven shaft, and drivingand driven gears, respectively, on said driving and driven shafts, agear hanger swingable about one of said shafts, a stationary bearing onsaid hanger, a shiftable bearing movably mounted on said hanger formovement into different positions from said stationary bearing and fromthe axis of said one shaft about which the gear hanger lis swingable,and a compound gear mounted on each of said bearings, each of saidcompound gears including a small gear and a large gear and each of saidcompound gears being reversible on the associated bearing, saidshiftable bearing being movable into different positions so as todispose the gear on the shiftable bearing in a position meshing with thegear on said one shaft and with the other compound gear.

4. In a grain drill, the combination of a grain gear on the drivenshaft, a swingable gear. carrier mounted. for rocking Vmovement Y,about-- one of, said shafts adjacent; the gearth'ereon4` andshiftabletoward andawayff fromthe .gear on the other shaft,affirstreversible compound'gear, a fixed bearing support therefor.Adisposed oni said carrier ina position tocause the.y largerv sectionof/.said-rst compoundgearto mesh with the gear on saidother shaft,v asecond reversible compound gear, said gear carrier; having anopeningthere-y in, a bearing support for saidsecondicompound gearshiftable into different positions in4 said opening so. asto-disposeeither of the sections of saidsecondieompound gear in'mesh'with the gearonsaid one shaft and iinmesh-with-said rst'compoundgear, and means/forclamping said shiftofi. said shafts adjacent the gear. thereon andVshiftable toward and'away from the gear on the other shaft, a firstreversible compound-gear, a fixedrb-earingsupport thereforf disposed onsaid carrier in a position to cause the larger section of said firstcompound Agear-tomesh with the gear on said other shaft, asecondreversible compound gear, said geary carrier having an opening'therein,V aibearing support forv said second compound gear shiftabletowardand away from theaxis of .said one shaftand also toward 'and awayfrom the axis of said fixed bearing support-whereby said,` secondcompound gear may be shifted into different positions .in said openingso as'to dispose either of the sections of said second compound gear. inmesh-with the gear. on said one shaft and in .mesh-withLsaid:rstcompoundgear, andmeans forlclamping said shiftable bearing supporttovsaid'lgear. carrier, the shiftable bearingsupport'a'lso being.movable into a position accommodating.. the interchange of.. saidcompound gears one for'` the other.`

SLT'netinvention set forthin claimv 5,' further characterizedby saidshiftable bearing support comprising an .Y apertured gear-receivingbushing disposed at one side of said gear carrier, an-apertured'plate atthe other side of said opening in the-gear carrier, and a bolt smallerthan said opening-passing through the latter, said plate and bushing forholding the Vlatter xed in any position of adjustment relative to saidgear-carrier;

7. The invention set forthin claim', further ycharacterized by saidshiftable bearingsupport comprising an apertured gear-receiving bush'-ing disposed at one side of said gear carrier, an

apertured plate at the other side of said open'- ing, in' the gearcarrier, saidplate and the a`d' jacent: portions of. said gear carriersurrourfiinggsaid opening at saidother side thereofhaving ,cooperatingprojections adapted to interlock` in diierent positions of said plateabout said opening in the gear carrier, and a bolt smaller than saidopening passing through vthe latter, said plate and bushing for holdingthe latter xedlin any 'position of adjustmentrelativetd saidgearcarrier.

.8; In a gra-in drill, a swingablegeari'carrier comprisinga-ifmernber`having means formingan axis 1 abbut'zwhich; said carrier is swingable,Ya gearreceivingfhearingixed on said carrier and spacedk romsaid" axisof. swinging movement, asecond gearreceivingbearing comprising'ablockmovably!connected` with'. said carrier and shiftable intodiferentpositions radially with respect to both said axis and the axis of saidrst mentioned gear-receiving bearing and means fixing said block .to rsaid; carrier indifferent positions relative theretol 941111 aigrainzdrill,v a swingable gear carrier comprising-'a Vmember havingmeansforming an axisiaboutiwhich said carrier is swingable, a gearreceiving;bearing'on said carrier and spaced from said axis ofiswinging: movement,a second gearreceivinghbearing movably connected with saidcarrierandshiftableinto different positions radially.l with respect toboth said axis and the axis of.l said-` first' mentioned gear-receivingbearing,

said? gearA carrier having an enlarged openingV andsaidiisecondgear-receiving bearing comprising.' aclampingpart passing looselythroughsaid openingVabushing carried by said part at one side ofisaid'zcarrier, and a clamping plate carried bysaidipartlat theotherside of said carrier,

10;.The invention set forth in claim 9, further characterized by saidcarrier and plate having cooperating projections adapted to beinterlocked togetherin any adjusted position of said plate on saidcarrier;

11. A` grain drill comprising aseed feeding shaft; oneor more double runfeed cup units driven from said shaft and each including a member havinga pair of feeding faces and a gate operable adjacent each face; eachgate-being adjustable into anyone of approximately ten different-seedfeeding positions, adriving shaft,v each of said-shafts having aegearthereon, a swingable gear hanger mounted'for movement about one of saidvshafts adjacent the gear thereon and swingable toward and away from thegear on the other shaft, and a pair of reversible andinterchangeablecompound gear members supported replaceably and rotatablyonk said hanger, each of said'compound gearmembers having sectionsofdierent diameters, and a shiftable bearing unitcarrying-one of saidlcompound gear membersv for movementl into different radial positionsbothwith respect'to the gear on said one shaft and` with respectYV tothe other of said compound gear-member; the latter being' meshable withthe gear on said other'shaft and said one compound gear member beingmeshable with the gear on saidY one' shaft, saidbearing unit beingshiftable int'ol a position providing for the interchange ofsaidi'compound gearmembers and their meshing with the gears on saidshafts, respectively, whereby with two compound gear members fivediiferentspeed changes may be effected between the.v driving anddrivenshafts, thus, cooperating with saiddoub'le run feed cup units toprovide for approximately one hundred `different rates of feed.`

1`2.In an.. agricultural implement, a driving member, a-driven member, adouble width gear xed to onefmember, a second gear fixed to the othermember, a gear hanger swingable generally about one member towardand'away from the gear onthe other member, a. pairof compound gears,each havingrtwo; gear; sections of different sizes; andrbearingsupportmeans shiftably carriedbysaid'gearhanger for 'reversibly-and intervchangea-blyreceiving' said compound gears to' selectively connect saiddriving and driven members.

13. In a grain drill, the combination of a grain driven shaft, a drivingshaft, and a selective speed transmission operatively connecting saidshafts, comprising a gear on the driving shaft, a gear ori the drivenshaft, a swingable gear carrier mounted for rocking movement about oneof said shafts adjacent the gear thereon and shiftable toward and awayfrom the gear on the other shaft, a first reversible compound gear, axed bearing support therefor disposed on said carrier in a position tocause the larger section of said first compound gear to mesh with thegear on said other sha'ft, a second reversiblei compiound gear, ashiftable bearing support for said second compound gear movable intodifferent positions relative to said gear carrier so as to disposeeither of the sections of said second compound gear in mesh with thegear on said one shaft and in mesh with said first compound gear, andmeans for clamping said shiftable bearing support to said gear carrier.

14. In a grain drill, the combination of a driven shaft, a drivingshaft, and a selective speed transmission operatively connecting saidshafts, comprising a gear on the driving shaft, a gear on the drivenshaft, a gear carrier, a first reversible compound gear, a fixed bearingsupport therefor disposed on said carrier in a position to cause thelarger section of said first compound gear to mesh with the gear on-said other shaft, a second reversible compound gear, and a bearingsupport therefor shiftable in either of two different directionsrelative to said gear carrier, radially with respect to said gear on thedriven shaft and also radially with respect to the gear on said fixedbearing support, so as to accommodate the reversal of said secondcompound gear and the meshing of either its largersection or its smallersection with said one gear and the meshing of its larger section witheither of the sections of said first compound gear.

15. A grain drill comprising a seed feeding shaft, seed feeding devicesdriven thereby, a driving shaft, each of said shafts having a gearthereon, a gear carrier extending generally between said shafts, a pairof reversible and interchangeable compound gear members supportedreplaceably and rotatably on said gear carrier, each of said compoundgear members having sections of different diameters, a bearing unitshiftably mounted on said carrier and carrying one of said compound gearmembers for movement relative to said carrier into different radialpositions both with respect to the gear on said one shaft and withrespect to the other of said compound gear member, the latter beingmeshable with the gear on said other shaft and said one compound gearmember being meshable with the gear on said one shaft, said bearing unitbeing shiftable into a position providing for the interchange of saidcompound gear members and their meshing with the gears on said shafts,respectively, whereby with two compound gear members five differentspeed changes may be effected between the driving and driven shafts, andmeans providing for interrupting the drive from said driving shaft tosaid driven shaft through said compound gears.

THEODORE J. ERDMAN.

